Chapter 73

A few days after summoning Luna.

Since then, we've been living normally without going hunting. Nothing particularly unusual has happened, and it's been truly peaceful days.

Regarding the collection of magic stones, I tried to determine if it was because we were a party or if it was due to the summoning, but a problem arose.

No matter what Noelle and the others did, they couldn't leave the party. To determine if they were in a party, I used a beacon and checked if their names appeared in the transfer selection menu.

The result was that no matter what they did, they couldn't leave the party, so the experiment ended without hunting. It seems I have no choice but to call other adventurers.

The cause is unknown, but could it be because they subconsciously feel a connection? It's too ambiguous to make a judgment.

"Even though we're stuck, it's nice to relax like this once in a while."

"Take your time, there's no rush. I hope everything goes well... here!"

Noelle responded to my muttering, picked up a shogi piece, and placed it on the board with a satisfying click.

"I didn't think there would be entertainment items like gacha, but there are some. Checkmate."

"Wh-what, wait a minute!"

"Fufu, nope."

After Noelle placed her piece, Estelle, who was playing against her, moved her piece and declared checkmate. Estelle raised her hand to call a timeout, but Noelle smiled and rejected it.

During this break, I taught them board games and played with them. Especially Estelle, who quickly understood the rules and is now as good as or even better than me. She's scary.

I also found manga books when I brought out some thick books, so we never ran out of things to do.

"I lost again... Estelle is too strong..."

"Try harder from now on. I'll take this."

"Aaaah... patari..."

Noelle and Estelle were playing shogi for the last piece of castella I brought out as a snack.

Estelle won, picked up the fluffy golden castella, and enjoyed it.

Seeing this, Noelle let out a faint cry and collapsed onto the table, reaching out her hand.

It's quite an exaggerated reaction for just a snack...

"So, what's up with that soulless Sisha over there?"

"Uu... I tried to appeal to Luna, but it all failed."

"Since you're a priest, she probably just doesn't like you. Why don't you give up?"

Sisha was sitting alone in a chair, a bit away from where we were sitting, looking dejected. She looked like a person who had burned out and turned to white ash.

Since the day Luna was summoned, she had tried multiple times to become friends with her, but was always rejected.

It seems that just being a priest makes her instinctively disliked, so there's nothing we can do... but it's a bit pitiful.

"I will never give up!"

"Wow, she's back to life."

"Why is Sisha so obsessed with Luna?"

"Ah, I've been wondering about that too. Why is that?"

As Estelle poked Sisha with her finger and told her to give up, Sisha clenched her fist, stood up, and shouted.

Noelle asked why she wanted to become friends with Luna so much, looking puzzled.

I didn't expect her to be this obsessed, so I'm curious too.

"I don't really understand it myself, but just looking at Luna makes my heart... go 'kyu.'"

Sisha pressed her chest, sighed, and looked wistful.

It's a bit awkward to see her acting like a lovesick girl towards a young girl... but Noelle and the others also looked confused at her reaction.

"Haa... I'm going out today..."

"Aa... don't stay out too late."

"Oh, then I'll go for a walk with Muffett too!"

Sisha walked out, looking dejected.

Noelle then led Muffett out of her room and followed her outside.

Since we got a house, during this break, they've been going out alone more often, unlike when they were staying at the inn.

It's great that they've found things they like and are starting to act on their own.

"Well, I'll go out too. What about you, Estelle?"

"Oh, then I'll go with you, big brother."

Noelle and the others going out on their own was a good thing, but Estelle hasn't gone out alone since the break started.

She stays by my side every day and wants to come with me wherever I go.

"I'm happy you want to come with me, but it's okay to do things you like on your own sometimes."

"Being with big brother is what I like."

"Oh... well, if that's the case..."

Estelle put her hand on her cheek and smiled at me.

I want her to do things she likes, but... I can't say anything when she puts it like that.

●

"So, big brother, where are you going today?"

"Ah, I'm going to the Adventurer's Guild. I need people to help with collecting magic stones, so I want to make arrangements now."

Today's task is to make arrangements with local adventurers to try the method of collecting magic stones.

I'm not sure if I can get someone to join on short notice, so I want to make sure everything goes smoothly on the day.

...Actually, I'm hoping to make arrangements with Mr. Grin sooner rather than later. It's more relaxing to ask someone I know than a stranger.

"Still, I didn't expect Luna to really become a shut-in."

"She comes out at night, but she doesn't seem to be in good shape during the day."

"Well, it can't be helped... we'll try to level her up later."

For the first one or two days after summoning, we lived the same way, but when Luna's condition worsened, we decided to let her live in a way that suits her.

According to her, waking up in the morning and going to bed at night is too unhealthy! It's completely the opposite.

Because Luna's schedule is reversed, she spends a lot of time alone, but Sisha stays up late to keep her company.

Sisha might find it annoying, but I hope her efforts pay off.

"Mr. Ohtsuka, it's been a while. What brings you here today?"

"It's been a while. Well, I have a request."

"Mr. Ohtsuka has a request? The request counter is over there, but what kind of request is it?"

Entering the guild and heading to the reception, Mana greeted me. It had been a while since we last met, as the last time was when I left for the capital.

After exchanging greetings and telling her I had a request, she looked puzzled and pointed to the request counter.

Is it unusual for an adventurer to request something from another adventurer? Since it's a different counter, I was about to head there, but she asked what the request was, so I stopped.

"I'm looking for someone who can hunt Black Orcs with me for a day."

"Black Orcs? Recently, Mr. Grin has been hunting Goblins and Orcs with other adventurers, so that might be a good match."

Oh! Mr. Grin might take it!

...Wait, what? He's hunting with other adventurers? So it's not just Mr. Grin, but others might come too... well, it's fine.

"I'll let Mr. Grin know when he returns."

"Thank you."

So, I asked Mana to pass on my request to Mr. Grin.

I thought it would take longer, but it was over quickly... Oh, right. Since I'm here, I might as well get this checked.

"Can you confirm this monster's proof of defeat?"

"This... what kind of monster is it? I've never seen it before..."

"Well, it was a black, four-legged monster as big as a Cyclops. Oh, and a Goblin was riding on its back. There were also horns and skin that fell off..."

"I'll take it to the back and have it checked. Please wait a moment."

I showed Mana the tusk of the Behemoth I defeated in the dungeon. She observed it for a while but said she didn't know, then went to the back to investigate further. Do they have some kind of investigation tool?

I knew it was a Behemoth, but I'm glad I didn't mention the name.

Since it came from deep in the dungeon, it might not have been confirmed in this world. From the fact that Mana didn't know it, it seems it's not a recognized monster.

"Big brother, what kind of monster is that?"

"It was the one that appeared at the end of the Goblin Dungeon. It was really dangerous."

"Oh, it was the same monster we faced? I collected the horns, so I'll give them to you later."

"Oh, that's right. You and the others had a hard time with it, didn't you?"

"No, once we targeted the Goblins on top, it went down quickly."

Impressive, Estelle... too impressive. If we hadn't been separated, we could have taken it down instantly.

Once the Goblin on top was defeated, the Behemoth could be taken down, but it would have been dangerous if it was just the Behemoth. We can't be too careful.

"I'm sorry, but we couldn't identify it here. The guild in Shuting might be able to investigate it further. For the materials, it's better to have them appraised at a place that specializes in that rather than selling them to a general store."

"I see... I'll have it checked in the capital. Thank you for handling Mr. Grin's request."

After a while, Mana returned but couldn't identify the monster.

It's hard to convey how dangerous it was without seeing it, so I'll give up on the reward... I can only hope the information is in the capital.

There are places that specialize in appraising materials. The horns and other parts are definitely top-quality, so even without the reward, they should be worth a lot of money.

"Great! It's lucky that Mr. Grin can come."

With the business done, I left the guild.

I didn't expect it to go so smoothly. There's some uncertainty about other people coming, but it's much more relaxed knowing Mr. Grin will be there.

"I've only met him once, but are you and that uncle close, big brother?"

"I met him first after coming to this world, besides Noelle. I don't know what Mr. Grin thinks, but I find him easy to get along with... and reassuring."

"Does that mean Deus and the others are also reassuring for you?"

"Ah, well, about him..."

I've only worked with Mr. Grin once, but I feel close to him because he was the first person I met from another world. I wonder what he thinks of me.

Raul, the merchant, is probably doing well... I should ask Mr. Grin about him.

I feel close to Deus now, but the first impression was bad. If we had met differently, we might have had a better relationship. It's a shame.

If we can collect magic stones as a party, I'd like to ask Deus and the others, but it seems difficult.

Even if we were a party, how would we maintain that recognition? Hmm, I can't think of anything.

"Anyway, Estelle, since you came with me, do you want to stop by a store?"

"Really? That's nice."

"Yeah, wherever you want. But compared to the capital, there's not much to see here. Do you want to go to the capital now?"

"Sometimes a quiet place is nice, so Brunne is fine. Besides, I'm happy as long as I'm with big brother."

Since the business was done quickly, I thought I'd take Estelle around some stores. Since she came with me, I want her to enjoy herself a bit.

Brunne has fewer stores, so we could have gone to the capital using the beacon.

But Estelle said Brunne was fine and smiled, saying she was happy as long as she was with me.

"...S-so, that's good. Let's go then."

"Wait, big brother."

I was momentarily stunned by Estelle's words but quickly regained my composure and started walking.

I feel a bit embarrassed, and my face feels hot.